Winery Terra Madre

Winery Terra Madre

The south of Croatia, known for its warm summers, Mediterranean climate, and beautiful landscape, is also home to some of the best wineries in the country that offer top wines and unforgettable tasting experiences. Due to its favorable Mediterranean climatic environment, this region is the perfect place for growing many varieties of grapes, including Plavac Mali, Pošip and many others, so it is not surprising that the best of Croatian wines are hidden right here. Along the coast of the Adriatic Sea, you will come across numerous wineries with a long tradition of producing top-quality wines, but this time Home Rent brings the story of one that has stood out for more than ten years with its story, ambiance, and quality of its wines. It is the Terra Madre winery, whose story begins in 2009 with the planting of vineyards on Komarna, the youngest vineyard in Croatia. With a lot of love and effort that viticulture requires, they welcomed their first harvest in 2010. Since then, they have been successfully building a brand whose fundamental principles are the quality and autochthonousness of the Dalmatian varieties they want to preserve.

1. How long is the tradition of wine production at the Terra Madre winery and what is the story behind its name?

Terra Madre vineyards belong to the youngest vineyard in Croatia - Komarna Vineyard. They are relatively young, the actual preparation of the terrain and planting began in 2009 with the melioration of the steep karst. Permanent vines are planted in the stone itself, which makes up more than 70% of the substrate, the rest is red soil. The preparation of the terrain itself was demanding because there were thickets and maquis, and no other agricultural crops. Therefore, the idea for the very name of the brand "terra madre" came from the Latin words that mean "mother earth", original virgin soil, untouched nature, and in accordance with this, we carry out organic (ecological) production, in order to preserve what is originally on that area.

2. What is the most important thing in the process of producing top-quality wine?

The quality of the grapes, which we have thanks to the specific terroir, proximity to the sea, great insolation of the sun and strong ventilation, is essential for the production process of top-quality wine. The substrate itself (stone-limestone) absorbs water and thus prevents the occurrence of diseases, which enables us to produce organically. Furthermore, the method of processing itself is important, which starts immediately after the harvest, so that the grapes are not additionally "tired" by standing for a long time. In the cellar, we have modern new technology that facilitates the processing process itself and completes the entire cycle, followed by constant care in the cellar and aging in barrique barrels to obtain top-quality wine.

3. What types of wine do you produce? Which of them would you single out as the most popular and why?

We produce wines from autochthonous Dalmatian varieties. As for white wines, there is Pošip, which we produce in two lines, fresh Premium and aged in oak barrels, so-called. Sur lie. Then we also make Rose, either originally from Plavac mali or we enrich it with international varieties Syrah and Cabarnet S. However, 80% of our production consists of red wines of the indigenous Plavac mali variety, which we produce in 3 lines, of which we single out the Premium line made from selected Plavac mali grapes immediately in the vineyard with a slight addition of Syrah and Cabernet S, in a ratio of 85-15% in favor of Plavac mali. This is our direction and the quality we strive to maintain, and the confirmation of success is the silver medal at the popular Decanter competition in London.

4. What would you recommend to guests who come to your winery and want to try something different from the classic wine varieties?

They should definitely try Sur lie Pošip, which delights and destroys all prejudices that white wine is best fresh, we have very positive impressions with aged Pošip, and of course, Premium plavac mali, which is mixed with international varieties to a lesser extent, which makes an interesting blend, softens the tannins, and conquers at the first sip.

5. The winery has won many valuable awards from the beginning until today. What is the key to success, and how difficult is it to maintain the high-quality standards of your wines during each production season?

From year to year it is increasingly difficult and demanding because we face many challenges in production. We are still feeling the consequences of the "COVID crisis" and now sudden price increases that have not bypassed our production, but we have managed to maintain the standard with hard work, effort, and persistence to base it on quality, even if it costs us more.

6. What do you offer for guests who would like to visit the winery and taste some of your most famous wines?

We offer a couple of wine tastings with additions of cold appetizers such as traditional Dalmatian prosciutto, cheese and a combination of seafood. What is also offered is the possibility of using a "picnic basket" where you can choose a bottle of wine of your choice, a tasting snack and enjoy the unique ambiance next to the vineyards, the sea view and the sunset. We also have other beverages such as coffee, and many people want to come just for the wonderful view of the Pelješka peninsula and the entire Komarna vineyard, which was further popularized by the construction of the famous Peljeski bridge.

When you visit the Terra Madre winery on your holiday in Croatia, in addition to tasting wine and traditional Dalmatian specialties, you have the opportunity to learn about the wine production process, tour the vineyards themselves and enjoy the beautiful surroundings and all the charms that Dalmatia offers. See more on their website here.

We remember experiences, and for an unforgettable overall experience of your vacation in Croatia, check HomeRent offer of luxury villas in Dalmatia. For more useful information and recommendations about activities and the best destinations in Croatia, visit the HomeRent blog Croatia in style and plan a memorable vacation with our advice.